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Winner, 2018 RBC Taylor Prize
Winner, 2017 Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing
Winner, First Nation Communities Read Indigenous Literature Award
Finalist, 2017 Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction
Finalist, 2017 Speaker’s Book Award
Finalist, 2018 B.C. National Award for Canadian Non-Fiction
A Globe And Mail Top 100 Book
A National Post 99 Best Book Of The Year

In 1966, twelve-year-old Chanie Wenjack froze to death on the railway tracks after running away from residential school. An inquest was called and four recommendations were made to prevent another tragedy. None of those recommendations were applied.

More than a quarter of a century later, from 2000 to 2011, seven Indigenous high school students died in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The seven were hundreds of miles away from their families, forced to leave home and live in a foreign and unwelcoming city. Five were found dead in the rivers surrounding Lake Superior, below a sacred Indigenous site. Jordan Wabasse, a gentle boy and star hockey player, disappeared into the minus twenty degrees Celsius night. The body of celebrated artist Norval Morrisseau’s grandson, Kyle, was pulled from a river, as was Curran Strang’s. Robyn Harper died in her boarding-house hallway and Paul Panacheese inexplicably collapsed on his kitchen floor. Reggie Bushie’s death finally prompted an inquest, seven years after the discovery of Jethro Anderson, the first boy whose body was found in the water.

Using a sweeping narrative focusing on the lives of the students, award-winning investigative journalist Tanya Talaga delves into the history of this small northern city that has come to manifest Canada’s long struggle with human rights violations against Indigenous communities.

Seven Feathers

This is captivating and at the same disturbing. I have lived all my life in Canada and did not realize the scope of the problems the indigenous people are still facing. Residing close to the Six Nations I observed the problems in the Caledonia standoff. Their issues are never heard until something like this happens. It is 2018 and we have not come too much further in treating the indigenous fairly. It is no wonder they want their own government, and rightly so.

by Captivating and Disturbingon January 31, 2018

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5

Seven Fallen Feathers

This a powerful account of the impact of systemic racism on the lives of indigenous in Canada and in particular, Northwestern Ontario and Thunder Bay. As a Canadian citizen and a former resident of Thunder Bay, i am ashamed that the deaths of seven indigenous youths have been so poorly investigated despite a similar pattern of events. Decades of government apathy in improving access to culturally appropriate high school education within the northern communities is apalling. If these youths were white, I think the supports and responses to missing minor children would have been different. As a society we can do better.

by Ruth Ton March 04, 2018

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5

Hard Truths

Beautifully written book. Not an easy read, but a must read for all with some very hard truths.

by S. F.on January 29, 2018

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5

Riveting!

Tanya Talaga and her journalism partners should take pride in spreading the stories of injustices our indigenous peoples still face in this country on a daily basis. The newspapers in Canada should be as diligent as this book. I feel ashamed as a white Canadian that this has happened and continues to happen. A required read!!

by Gerardette B.on January 12, 2019

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5

well wrtten

A troubling story of racism and unequal treatment of Indignous people with law enforcement and government polcies. Contains historical and modern content. A good read.